Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Fife, Scotland.
I’ve managed to conjure up some Guinness to mark the occasion.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Fife, Scotland.
I’ve managed to conjure up some Guinness to mark the occasion.
Good morning from a very wet and cold Edinburgh.
I’m on the train heading out to Dunfermline to stay with my mum for the weekend and catch up with my sister and her family.
Enjoyed a really nice evening with a fellow psychologist in Edinburgh last night. The Guinness was epic, though I’m feeling it this morning! 🤣
Good evening from a very damp and cold Edinburgh.
Time for some liquid refreshment.
I’ve had a much better day today
Had a very productive morning in the office and an even better afternoon working from home.
Just back from the gym and now it’s time to pack for tomorrow’s trip to Edinburgh.
📸 Visual proof of just how exhausted I am this evening.
Still made it to the gym though, and managed 45mins on the elliptical. Whiled away the time by watching YouTube videos about life in Tokyo and doing some travel planning for later this year.
I returned to Japanese class yesterday, for the first time in three weeks, and it was a disaster.
I was so behind, it felt abysmal. I really need to knuckle down and do some serious studying and practice before next Monday’s class. I never want to look that clueless again! 😬
Heading into the office after yet another weekend that felt just too short.
Thankfully, this is a three day week for me and then I’m off to Scotland to see family.
Better get cracking on my todo list then!
An unusual week, this one. I started it in a hospital and I’m finishing it on the sofa. Feeling fine now and looking forward to the week ahead.
After Monday’s hospital tests, which all went to plan, I’m now waiting on my next appointment with the consultant to get some answers and a plan of action.
I’m not sure how much was physical and how much was psychological, but it took me a few days to feel like my normal self. I probably should have anticipated the next day would be tough, but Fatigue kept me from getting as much exercise as I’d have liked, and I ‘treated’ myself to a few cheat meals. As a result, I’ve regained some of the weight I lost last month. No matter. I’ll get back on the saddle this week and get back on track.
Again, for a week that started in the hospital, it turned into quite a social few days! We had a friend visiting from Singapore this week, so I ended up spending a few evenings with him, eating pizza and catching up. I also hasd a house-warming party and drinks at a friend’s place.
Yesterday, we went to The Other Art Fair in Shoreditch and fell in love with several pieces. No impulse purchases were made, though we did keep several business cards from artists we chatted with. Really lovely people, with fantastic talents on display. It was such a pleasant experience, we both left with smiles on our faces.
Add to this a dinner with my husband to celebrate our 11th anniversary (since our civil partnership - we’re over 20yrs together) and I was really looking forward to a very quiet Sunday. Mission accomplished! I’ve been doing some planning, some readying and I even re-watched Dune on Netflix. But mostly, relaxing,
2024 is going to be a year of travel, that’s for sure. With last month’s visit to Japan already under my belt, this week saw me book a weekend in Vienna with my husband, a weekend in Malaga with my best friend and start planning a week in Bangkok - again, with the hubby.
I loved my first, very short visit to Bangkok and I’ve been keen to get back for years now. Vienna and Malaga have been on my list for a few years now. And we’ve also got a week for Sitges Pride in June and a return to Japan in November. My travel journal will be full by Christmas! And it all starts with a trip to Edinburgh this coming week - a mix of business and catching up with family.
Work was most definitely a mixed bag. While I had some disappointments on the new business front (you can’t win ‘em all!), I also got some cracking feedback from a client and managed to have an incredibly productive couple of days in the office to finish off the week. I also got to finally announce a new podcast project that I’m really excited about.
And that was the week that was.
A busy weekend on the social front.
Last night was our anniversary dinner and then drinks at a friend’s place. After lunch today, we’re going to an art show in Shoreditch with a friend. Then this evening, it’s another friend’s housewarming party.
Tomorrow shall be spent on the sofa. In silence.
Celebrating 11 years since my civil partnership to this wonderful guy.
Love is love. 🥰
TFI Friday
It’s been quite the week and I’m feeling not one bit guilty for finishing work early today.
Despite everything else that happened, I somehow managed to be insanely productive yesterday and this morning. So it’s time to get outside, get some air and move my body around.
I survived 45mins on the elliptical trainer.
Fuelled by rage, as I watched coverage of today’s budget. It may have raised my heart rate but did nothing for my enjoyment of the exercise.
Next time, I’ll go back to watching Battlestar Galactica. A true escape from Tory nihilism, where you’ve only got nuclear holocaust and infiltration by killer robots to worry about.
Heading downstairs to the gym.
For the first time since before I went to Japan. 🙈
This’ll be fun.
📸 The combination of sunshine, clouds and the London skyline is really working this evening…
📸 A mid-afternoon treat: some delicious mini KitKats from last month’s visit to Japan.
On reflection…
I should have booked today off work to recover from yesterday’s adventures. But we are where we are. So instead, I left the office early and I’m chilling at home.
After some annoying work news and a general feeling of being blocked creatively, I did the only sensible thing: I bought a new notebook. Time to return to the bullet journal and get back some clarity and focus.
It’s not been a typical few weeks, what with Japan and hospital, so I think it would be useful to pause and take a step back. Time to put on the kettle and get writing.
So this morning’s hospital tests all went to plan.
A bit of discomfort, minimal pain and some lovely, caring hospital staff all made it as positive an experience as this kind of thing can be. I’m back home recovering on the sofa.
And waiting on the delivery of the Five Guys burger I’ve been fantasising about since about midday yesterday. When I had to start fasting for the procedures. It can’t come soon enough!
📸 He lives!
In and out of theatre super quick. Lovely team looked after me - couldn’t have been nicer. And now I just have to wait for the results.
So it’s D-Day.
Or more accurately, C-Day. I’ve been awake since 4:30am, mind buzzing. I just want to get all of this over and get some answers about my health.
To keep me going, I’ve been fantasising about the Five Guys burger I’m going to demolish later today.
Wish me luck!
📸 Enjoying the view over London this evening…
Memories of last month’s trip to Japan and my visit to the Miyagi Zao Fox Village.
After a couple of weeks off due to my visit to Japan, I’m back into the weekly habit of posting an update of the week that was.
The main update here is my return from Japan. It always feels like a wrench to leave Tokyo, but this was somewhat lessened due to my excellent journey home. Though it was far from efficient.
I flew with Malaysia airlines from Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur and then from Kuala Lumpur to London. With a six hour layover in the middle. Both flights were an absolute delight and I can wholeheartedly recommend Malaysia airlines for any long-haul travel. Just like they mention in their impressive onboard safety video, they bring Malaysian hospitality to life.
I have a few of short-haul trips in the schedule in the coming months: Edinburgh, Dublin, Sitges and Mallorca. I’m also looking at visiting Malaga for the first time. And then, hopefully, we’ll be back in Japan come November - for my first ever visit to Hokkaido. Exciting!
Not that it’s my main focus in life, I now weigh less than I did before my visit to Japan! This is despite all the food and drink and lack of gym visits. I can only put it down to all the walking I did and the healthy nature of a lot of Japanese cuisine.
Today is all about preparing for tomorrow’s hospital visit. I can’t say I’m looking forward to it, but my focus is 100% on getting some results (which should be immediately after, once I’m fully conscious again) and have a plan of action.
I went to see Dune 2 yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s arguably better than its predecessor and I barely noticed its impressive 2hrs 47mins runtime. The special effects were incredible, the score absorbing and the story compelling. If you enjoyed the first one, this will definitely impress.
I’ve been re-watching Battlestar Galactica from the start - again! It was initially reserved for sessions on the elliptical trainer in our gym, but I actually ended up watching six episodes on my flights back from Tokyo. I’m now on season two and, while there are a few rocky episodes and evidence of cheaper set design, it’s still an impressive piece of TV drama.
I also finished Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and really enjoyed it. As I noted when I posted about it, it reminded me of one of my favourite books of all time, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay which is the biggest compliment I can give it.
Finally, given recent news of how Wordpress is abusing the content creating by its users, I’ve started over with a personal long form blog and will be shutting down my Wordpress sites in the coming week. I’ll also be posting my longer posts over there, but linking back to them here on MacPsy.ch. I find Ghost to be a much better solution for those kinds of posts, where Micro.blog is perfect for sharing quick thoughts and cross-posting to other platforms.
And that was the week that was…
Awake since 5am.
No, not jet lag. At least, not mine.
Husband arrived back from Japan yesterday afternoon and has been wide awake since 3am. Whereas I would read or mindlessly scroll, he’s been up doing laundry and housework.
I’m exhausted just listening to it.
📸 Declaring “Sofa Saturday” and relaxing with some podcasts, YouTube and reading.
📸 The sky is finally clearing up after some abysmal rain and wind earlier.